Alexander Mbuyisa Maphalala

I was born in 1972, Johannesburg South Africa but raised in Eswatini, and now lives and works in London, UK. Studied Commercial Art and Printmaking. Has exhibited in Eswatini,South Africa, USA and the UK.

My artwork takes critical view of social, political and cultural issues. In my work I deconstruct my African background and reproduce familiar visual signs, symbols and motifs, arranging them into new conceptually layered pieces. Often at times these themes are combined into installations that feature found recycled domestic objects painted in white, juxtaposed with geometrical shapes and patterns, and often embellished with stencilled text. The colour white establishes a dream- like surreal quality, suggests notion of calmness and safety, and formally unifies the disparate objects in each installation. The text, symbols and motifs provide clues of content and interpretations.
While I use a variety of materials and processes in each project my methodology is consistent. Although there may not always be material similarities between the different projects they are linked by formal concerns and through the subject matter. The subject matter of each body of work determines the materials and the forms of the work.
Each project of...

Studied Commercial Art and Printmaking